'Cliffe Laxwomen Sneak by Tufts, 7-6

Sparked in the second half by the scoring of two substitutes and Carrie Minot's hat trick, the Radcliffe laxwomen overcame a 4-2 deficit at intermission to squeeze by a hustling Tufts team 7-6.

Tufts, led by a lefthanded attacker who scored four goals in the game, broke the ice first and maintained possession of the ball for most of the first half.

Captain Anne Johnson tied the game at one each on a breakaway pass from Wisty Oppenlander, but the Jumbos retaliated with two quick goals.

Late in the opening period Oppenlander got back on the scoreboard for the Crimson. Tufts recorded one more goal before the break making the tally 4-2 at halftime.

But the Crimson were not down for long. Minot got the first of her trio on the first play of the second period. Taking the ball right off the draw, Minot dodged four defensemen and punched in a goal.

No You Minot

Just minutes later, Minot found the mark again, knotting the score at four all. Sub Betsy MacIntyre pitched the ball in from the right side and the 'Cliffe was on top 5-4. The teams exchanged goals and soon the score stood at 6-5.

Then goalie Sukie MacGraw pulled another in a string of unbelievable saves, thwarting a Jumbo fast break that looked like a free shot at the net. Coming way out of the goal, MacGraw hit the stick of the lone attacker as she spun around to shoot and knocked out the ball.

With just two minutes left to play, the big elephants evened up the score on a badly angled shot from the right side. The ball hit MacGraw's leg pads and bounced past her into the crease. The other replacement, Sue Abkowitz, followed the fluke with a little magic score of her own and the Crimson won their seventh game of the season.

Johnson credited the Jumbos' sagging man-to-man defense with confusing the Crimson attack. "We were most successful on fast breaks, because we didn't quite know how to handle their defense when they had the chance to set up," she said.

Coach Debi Fields said that the team did not spread out the attack enough, sagging on the defense and bunching up. "There was not enough space for us to move or cut," she added.

This weekend the team will travel to Williams College for the New England College Tournament. On the strength of their performances in the two-day tourney, four All-College teams will be chosen to compete in the division tournament, where the national team members will be chosen.

According to coverpoint Laurie Benton, the laxwomen will fare well in Williamstown. "If we lose to anybody it's our own fault. We're great," she said.